European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

STUDIES ON GUT HEALTH PROMOTING EFFECTS OF INTES’CARE (A POLYHERBAL FORMULATION) ON GI RELATED MEASUREMENTS IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

Sindhura G., Swetha Belavadi, Shivalinge Gowda K. P.*, Nataraj Loganayaki, Kumar S., Venkateswarlu K.

ABSTRACT

Objective: The study is concerned with the evaluation of gut promoting effects of Intes’Care (a polyherbal formulation) on GI related measurements in experimental animals. Methods: Intes’Care is a polyherbal formulation developed by Suguna Foods Pvt Ltd. Acute oral toxicity was carried out in order to determine LD50. In model I, acetic acid was used to induce the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in female Albino wistar rats on 1st and 3rd day. Treatment duration was for 15 days. On 15th day, physical parameters (body weight, food intake, water intake), blood parameters (RBC, WBC), LDH estimation, weight of the colon, colon mucosal damage index (CMDI) were recorded. Anti-diarrheal activity of Intes’Care powder (ICP) was evaluated using castor oil induced diarrhea and gastrointestinal motility testing in mice in Swiss albino mice. % diarrheal inhibition, total length of the intestine, peristaltic index were calculated. In-vitro nitric oxide scavenging activity of ICP was determined using Griess reagent. Results: Acute oral toxicity study showed no signs of toxicity by ICP even when the dose was increased to 2000mg/kg body weight. ICP improved the body weight, increased the feed as well as water intake. Significant increase in the RBC count and decrease in the WBC count when compared to IBD control rats was observed. Also increased LDH levels were brought back to near normal and decreased the CMDI scoring. ICP proved its antidiarrheal activity by reducing the onset of diarrhea, increasing the % diarrheal inhibition and peristaltic index. Conclusion: This study suggests that Intes’Care, a polyherbal preparation that is formulated by Suguna Foods Pvt Ltd, is effective in treating IBD, possesses antimotility, antidiarrheal effects in rodent model. Future studies investigating the role of Intes’Care in alleviating gastrointestinal disorders are certainly warrented.

Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea, Acetic acid, Castor oil, Sulfasalazine, Lopiramide.